Bill Lawrence’s photos, taken in secret, at Stalag VIIIB/344
These photographs were taken by Seargeant (later Warrant Officer) Bill Lawrence in Stalag VIIIB. He constructed the camera in a Red Cross food parcel box with the aid of two lenses which were smuggled into the main camp from an outside working party.
After each shot he had to move the frame on manually under the blanket of his bed whilst an accomplice wathced out for guards.
He carried the box under his arm and had a hole cut in one end which he covered with his hand. He had friends who were medical orderlies and they obtained x-ray chemicals for developing, and film.
My Uncle, William Fergus, was POW at Stalag VIII B. He managed to escape when the camp was being emptied as Russians were moving in.
Heather, We don’t currently have a record for William Fergus only for Wilhelm Fergus. The German record cards at National Archives for the surname Fergus produces 8 resultshttps://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_aq=Fergus%2C%20William&_cr=WO416&_dss=range&_ro=any&_st=adv but none are for a William.
Please send his details using https://www.prisonersofwarmuseum.com/pow-details-submission/
I would like to know if my uncle Major Rupert luxmore Murray prisioner in Crete was in this stalag
Juan, Our record for him has him in Oflag XC Lübeck and Oflag IXA/H Burg Spangenberg https://www.prisonersofwarmuseum.com/prisoners/murray-r-l-t/
The German record card for him at TNA places him in Oflag XC Lubeck https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17414827 Assuming his DoB is 04/09/1899
Does anyone have contact information for the family of Sgt Bill Lawrence? I have been trying for months to obtain permission to use a few of these photos in a book I am writing on my father’s wartime experiences, which include a spell at Lamsdorf.
The IWM has tried in vain to reach out. Any assistance would be welcomed.
My father, Pte William Clay, RHLI was a prisoner taken at Dieppe and sent to Stalag VIII B. I have all the letters that my mother received from him as a POW. Censorship blocks out a lot of what he wrote. I was not able to find his name on the search.
Susan, Your father’s details were obviously not in the first batch that we received from the National Archives. Please click on this link https://www.prisonersofwarmuseum.com/pow-details-submission/ fill in the boxes and submit. I will then be able to create a record for him.
My dad Laurence Charles Barnes was a POW in 8b I have letters he wrote to mum sometimes words were cut out . His friend was Alec a Scotsman whom I met years after . His army unit was KRR captured at Calais.
Lesley we have a record for him created from information you sent us nearly 4 years ago. https://www.prisonersofwarmuseum.com/prisoners/barnes-l-c/
If you would like to send copies or photos of the letter sent to your mum to me Dave Lovell (powmemorialmuseum@gmail.com) I will be pleased to add them
Hi is there any information on my Dad who was a POW in Stalag V111B his name is Douglas George James
Eileen, thank you for posting on the charity’s website. We have 74 records for men with the surname James. Is this: https://www.prisonersofwarmuseum.com/prisoners/james-douglas-george/ that you are seeking information for?
Best Regards,
Dave Lovell
on behalf of the Online Memorial and Museum of Prisoners of War. Charity number: 1200975